“We hope to change the mindset of farmers and also the public so that they recognize the significance of Japanese culture around paddy fields and rice cultivation,” says Ichihashi. A wealth of ...

This is supported by the Japanese Science and Technology Agency ... who are characterizing microbial communities in rice paddy soils in the Niigata region using next-generation DNA sequencing ...

Paddy rice is irrigated by water diverted from rivers ... Indeed, as a matter of tradition, the Japanese government strictly prohibits the import of rice as long as local crops provide harvests ...

At least a fifth of rice farms have reported a drop in quality ... Farming ministry data show that only around 15% of Japanese paddy fields have adopted heat resistance variants.

In the village of Inakadate, Japan, elaborate expanses of “rice paddy art” grace the surrounding landscape. Looking for a way to boost tourism and contribute to the village’s rich culture, town ...